Container sealing device



` 2 Sheets- 'Sheejt 2 Feb. 6, 1945. c. c. GRoTNl-:s

CONTAINER SEALING DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1940 4 o w .m o @MAW T n N .f mw, m m am 4 /r l C www Patented Feb. 6, 1945 CONTAINER sEALiNG DEVICE' Carl C. Grotnes, Park Ridge, lll., assiznor of onehalf to George G. Cuttner, Chicago, Ill.

Application February `2, 194m, serial No. 316,912

4 Claims.

The invention relates to container sealing devices of the split ring type for clamping in place the cover of a container such as a metal drum, pail, barrel, or the like.

Containers of thev character indicated are commonly provided with a peripheral bead at one end and over this is tted a complemental marginal flange of a removable cover or .end member. To clamp the cover in place a split ring of channel shaped cross section is clamped about it, various means having been provided for drawing the ring tight.

Generally stated, it is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing device of the type set -forth embodying an improved and simplied mechanism for tightening or loosening the clamping ring, which is of such character as not only to be very simple to manipulate, b`ut also very low in cost. This minimization of cost is accomplished in large part through a reduction in the number and size of the parts required, as well as by a simplification of their assembly and the elimination of as many pivotal joints and thelike as possible.

Another object is to provide such a device embodying means for effectually pressing lthe ends of the split ring laterally inward into iirm engagement with the underlying Icover and container parts when in clamped position so that the cover isell'ectually sealed about its entire periphery. l

Still another object is to provide such a device which combines good leverage ratios in a lever system for manipulating the clamping ring even though the levers are of minimum size, this action being accompanied by distortion of the ring in applying it to the container and in removing it.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, taken' in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary general perspective view of a paint pail provided with a sealing device embodying the invention. n

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the sealing device in its closed position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the sealing device in its open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the sealing device in its open position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view along the line 5 5 in Fig. 2.

Figl 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view along the line 6 6 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a metal barrel provided with a modied form of. sealing device embodying the invention.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the modifled form of Ill of a metal paint pail II of Well known form. l

This cove-r has a marginal flange or bead I2 which fits over .a complemental bead (not shown) on the lip of the pail. 'lo hold the cover securely in position it is embraced by a split clamping ring I3, drawn tight about it by a mechanism described below.

The split ring I3 is made of flexible, and preferably resilient metal, such as a fairly light gauge sheet steel. It is channel shaped in cross section, half round in the present instance (see Fig. 4). Its top edge overlies the cover bead I2 while its lower edges project inward beneath the shoulder on the bottom side of the bead formed on the end of the pail. Split rings constructed for such engagement with a cover and pail bead are well known in the art and, consequently, need not be further detailed here.

The improved and simplied mechanism for manipulating the clamping ring I3 to draw it tight, or to release it, comprises a laterally flexible -metal strap I4 (see Fig. 4) which is arranged to span the gap between the ends of the split ring I3. One e'nd of this strap I4 is spot welded or otherwise fixed to the crown of an end portion of thesplit ring as, for example, at I5. The cost and inconvenience of a pivotal connection between the strap and ring at this point are eliminated by utilizing the iiexibilityof the strap to accomplish the necessary movement between it and the ring. The free end of the strap I4 vis connected, as hereinafter described, to an operating lever I6 pivoted on the other end p ortion of the clamping ring. This operating lever is also of half round channel shaped cross section and is curved longitudinally (see Fig.`2) so as to conform with the curvature of the ring I3 and i; snugly along the periphery of the latter when the lever is in its retracted position.

In order to form a simple, but rugged pivotal retracted position (Fig. 2) without interference from the pivotV block I'l. It will be observed that the lever is thus pivoted to sling about-an axis paralleling the axis of the ring'I3 or, in other words, to move substantially in the plane of the ring.

To form a pivotal connection between the free end of the strap I4 and an intermediate portion of the lever I6 a hole 20 is provided in the latter (Figs. 4 and 6). In this hole is received an integral hook shaped projection 2| on the end of the strap. A hole 22 is formed in the ring I3 in a position to register in the hole 23 when the lever is retracted. so that the hook 2I is received in the hole 22 (Fig. 6) and, hence, any obstruction to full retraction o f the lever eliminated. Consequently, when the lever I6. is retracted it iits snugly along the periphery of the ring I3 so that the lever and strap I4 do not form an unsightly projection or bulge on the container no1-'do' they interfere with stacking and packing of the containers.

In applying the sealing device described to the container II, the lever I6 is swung outward substantially tokthe position of Fig. 3. Consequently,

thestrap I4 is iiexed laterally outwardly andi at the same time forced endwise toward the end of the ring I3 to which it is fixed so that the ends of the split ring are spread apart as shown.

The expanded ring is then positioned to encircle the end of the cover (Fig. 1) and the leverv I6 retracted to the position of Fig. 2. By this re'- traction of the lever the strap I4 is drawn inward toward the ring and at the sameA time is drawn endwise toward the lever so that the end s of the split ring are pulled together substantially into abutting engagement and the ring tightly clamps the container cover in place. To hold the lever I6 in--this Aretracted position a removable U-shaped snap spring 23 (Figs. 2 and 3) is arranged to ,overlie the end of the lever with its ends engaged in notches 24 in the ring I3. To open the container it is only necessary to remove the snap spring 23 and swing the lever I6 outward to the position of Fig. 3, whereupon the ,ring I3 is expanded and disengaged from the container.

In drawing the ends of the split ring together in the manner described above there is some tendency to pull them laterally away from the container which is, of course, undesirable'since there should be a tight seal about the entire periphery of the cover I0. To overcome this difficulty a longitudinal ridge is fashioned on the n inner face of the strap I4, this ridge being formed in the present instance, by an indentation 25 (Figs. 4 and 5). 'I'his ridgepressesrmly against the end portions of the ring I3 ariel forces them inward when the lever I8 is retracted so that the'ring I3 eiectually seals the entire perimeter In Figs. '7 to l device has been illustrated which also embodies the invention. In this instance the device is 12 a modiaed form 'of sealing' of the container is the same as for the paint pail II, described above, the larger size of the container II necessitates a heavier and more powerful sealing device. As before, a split clamping ring I3 is used which is of channel shaped, half round cross section and embraces the overlapping cover flange Il and container bead (see Fig. 13) The usual rubber gasket I2b is ar;

ranged b'etween the crown of the cover bead and the underlying portion of the barrel rim bead. Also, as in the case of the device of Figs. 1 to 6, a metal strap spans the gap between the ends of the split ring and one end is rigidly xed to an end portion of the ring. In this instance, however, a strap I4 of quarter round cross section is used so that the end portions of Cthe ring can be shifted relative to each other in a direction transverse to the plane of the ring without interference by the strap (see Fig. 1l). The strap I4 is riveted or otherwise rigidly secured at one end to an end portion of the ring I3 and is disposed so as to overlie only one side face of the ring. Similarly, the operating lever I6 is of quarter round cross section and also overlies only the saine side face of the ring as that on which the lstrap is located.

The' lever IIa is pivoted by a pin I8 onthe ring I3 to swing aboutan axis lying in the plane of the ring or, in` other words, so that the lever swings transversely to theplane of the ring rather than in the plane of the ring, as in the previous Ycase. Furthermore, the strap I4 is laterally rigid pivotal connection is utilizedI comprising a pin 20 xed on the lever and received in a transverse slot 2 I in the end portion of the strap. 'Ihe slot 2| is fashioned so that when the pin 20 is at its lower end and the lever I6 retracted (Fig. 9) theend portions of the ring I3 will lie in a common plane. Onv the other hand, when the lever I6 is swung to its ring-expanding i position 10) the pin 20 can rise to the upper end e of the slot 2l. In this way the skewing or the respective ends of the split ring is minimized,

twisting of the ring I3 incident to opening of` v.the isf minimized. To put it another way.

the angle 11.(Fig. 1.0) between the center lines oi even though quite a. short strap I4 is used. By

'this means maximum ,effectualness of operation' is combined with parts of minimum length, and. hence, of weight andcost. y

In the operation of this vmodified form of the device the ring I3 is vrst expanded for application to the container. To this end the lever I6 is swung away from the ring (to the position of Fig. 10). In the course of Isuch lever movement the strap I4 is thrust endwise in a' direction away from'the lever, thereby forcing apart the ends of the ring I3a and expanding it. As previously noted, the pin 20 rises to the upper end of the slot 2| so that twisting of the ring is minimized even though the now angularly disposed strap'is rigid with one end'of the ring. The cut away end portions of the' strap and lever (Fig.

l1) adjacent their respective pivoted ends permit complete freedom of movement for them.

oHaving expanded the ring I3 as described, it is positioned to encircle the end of the container, and the lever I6 is retracted to draw the ring tight. For this purpose the lever is swung from the 'position of Fig. 10 to that of Fig. 9. During this lever movement the pin 20n rides down to the lower or bottom end of the slot 2 I and then the pull of the lever is transmitted through it to the strap I4 to draw the latter endwise. As the strap is drawn endwise the ring I3 is contracted until, at the end of the lever movement, the ring ends are in substantially abutting engagement. With the linkage Il, I6a in the retracted position of Fig. 9 the strap and lever telescope or t snugly about the ring so as to minimize protrusion from it and to reenforce the ring at its split.

Means is provided to seal the lever IG against movement from its retracted position and thus prevent tampering with the closed container. To this end an integral lug or bracket 30 is formed on the free end of the lever and projects over the barrel head. On the lug 30 is pivoted an eccentric 'locking member 3I. This stamped sheet metal member 3| presents an edge flange 32 facing the inner side of the cover flange I2 (Fig. l2) The curvature of this flange is eccentric to the pivot for the member 3I. Accordingly, when the member 3| is swung toward the flange I2* (to the position of Fig. 12) it is tightly pressed against the cover flange, holding the lever I6 against displacement. 'I'he outer wall of the lever I6 is extended down as indicated at I6b (Fig. '7)

to form a reenforcing wall opposite the locking member 3I. Registering holes 33 are formed in the free end of the member 3l, and in a lug 34 on the lever I6, to receive a sealing wire 35 for preventing release of the locking member 3l without leaving signs of tampering.

I claim as my invention:

1. A sealing device of the type set forth, comprising, in combination, a split ring, a laterally flexible metal strap spanning the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an endportion of the ring, means on the other end of said ring for drawing said strap endwise toward said other end of the ring and also laterally inward toward the ring, and a longitudinal ridge on the inner face of said strap to press the ring ends inwardly when th'e\strap is drawn laterally in against the same.

2. In a sealing device of the character indicated, the combination of a split ring, a laterally flexible metal strap spanning the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to an end portion of the ring, a lever pivoted on the other end portionof the ring to swing about an axis- 'shaped cross section, a laterally flexible metal strap arranged to span the gap between the ring ends and fixed rigidly at one end to the crown of the ring adjacent one e'nd of the latter, aV

lever pivotally connected to the other end ofthe split ring, said lever also lbeing of channel shaped cross section and curved longitudinally to conform to the curvature of the ring so as to nt snugly about the exterior of the latter when swung into engagement with it, said lever having a hole therein intermediate its ends, said strap having a hook shaped projection on its free end engaged in said hole to form a pivotal connection between the strap and lever, and said ring having a recess therein registering with saidhole in the lever to receive the nose of said projection when the lever is swung toward the ring.

4. In a sealing device of the character set forth, the combination of a split clampingr ring of channel shaped half round cross section, a laterally flexible metal strap rigidly xed at one end to one end portion of the ring and disposed with the free end of the strap projecting toward the other end portion of the ring, an operating lever of half roundfcross section and curved in a longitudinal direction to conform with thecurvature of' the ring to thereby fit snugly along the exterior of the latter, a. channel shaped member fixed to said other end portion of the ring and having laterally projecting pivot pins thereon, said lever having a yoke shaped end arranged with the arms of the yoke pivoted on said pins for pivotal movement of the lever about an axis paralleling the axis of the ring, and means forming a ilexible connection between the free end of the strap and an intermediate portion of said lever.

` CARL C. GROTNES. 

